The Atlanta Braves gave Marcell Ozuna a rare start on Saturday night in hopes of breathing life back into the veteran's bat.
Ozuna and reliever Raisel Iglesias are the most notable expiring contracts the Braves are expected to move. In the dumpster fire that it is, the 2025 season seemed fitting that both players continued to tank what little trade value is left. Ozuna went 0-for-4 and appears to be a shell of the player he was a season ago. It is fair to point out that the veteran has been playing through an injury this season, and it is unknown how much the hip injury might be playing into this. That only furthers the point of how little value Ozuna carries.
After hitting .188 in June, the veteran has managed to regress to an alarming .135 over 45 plate appearances in July. Not only do the Braves have to find a team willing to pay for this production, but a team that is willing to take on an expiring contract for a designated hitter who has been an offensive liability. To say it is a tough sell is an understatement.
Any trade that presents itself is going to include sending the Braves anything of note.
Braves Veteran Marcell Ozuna Continues to Tank Potential Trade Value
Ozuna has been an important piece of the Atlanta offense during his tenure and brought an obvious energy to the clubhouse. However, there is no longer any reason to hold onto the past and attempt to keep the core together moving forward. If the Braves can find any team willing to take on the struggling slugger, moving on is the right decision. Perhaps a fresh start will allow Ozuna to unlock the player he was in the first weeks of the season.
Regardless, the Braves need to remain focused on parting ways with aging players and expiring contracts to reset heading into the offseason. It is a lost year that serves as a warning to Atlanta's front office and ownership what is ahead if the penny pinching continues. Refusing to pay stars market value and failing to add needed depth has resulted in painful consequences.
While Ozuna's implosion isn't a part of this, it does serve as a chance to turn the page and upgrade moving forward. Whether that is keeping the Drake Baldwin and Sean Murphy duo in the starting lineup, or looking at splashier options, a move still should be made if one can be found, as Ozuna's value continues to implode.